Tourette’s Treatment: Can Medical Cannabis Help?

Characterised by involuntary movements or noises, Tourette’s syndrome (TS) is a condition that affects over 300,000 people in the UK.

Tourette’s Syndrome manifests differently from person to person and is characterised by a combination of vocal outbursts (tics) and sudden physical jerks (motor tics), which usually start from a young age. The disorder is named after Dr. Georges Gilles de la Tourette (1857–1904), a pioneering French neurologist who first systematically described the condition in 1885.  Tourette’s Syndrome is commonly associated with mental health disorders including difficulties with focus and over-activity (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive behaviours, anxiety, depression and sleep difficulties, which cause significant function impairment. The challenges of living with the condition extend to not just the condition itself but also to the societal perceptions and stigma attached to it.

In this piece, we’ll explore the condition in more detail and examine the various treatments available to mitigate and control tics.

Here at Lyphe Clinic, we’ve seen firsthand the potential of medical cannabis to curb the more acute effects of neurological conditions, including Tourette’s. With plans from just £17.99 a month, carry out an eligibility assessment to see if Lyphe can help.

Understanding Tourette Syndrome

Tourette’s is a genetic neurological condition and is usually diagnosed by a neurologist. Ideally, it should ideally be managed by neurological and neuro-psychiatric specialists.

The motor and vocal tics themselves can be triggered by various emotional states such as stress, excitement or fatigue. Whilst Tourette’s appears in childhood, often affecting young boys, the symptoms usually worsen into adolescence and generally improve into adulthood.

Many misunderstand Tourette’s as a condition that causes people to involuntarily swear or say inappropriate things. While this is the case in some patients, only a small minority manifest offensive vocal tics.

Examples of tics

• Word repetition
• Shoulder shrugging
• Whistling
• Twitching movements
• Blinking or eye rolling

What causes Tourette’s Syndrome?

The cause of Tourette’s is still a mystery, though it’s thought the syndrome happens due to heightened genetic predisposition, often triggered by environmental factors.

Genetic factors and the way that nerve cells communicate may also play a role. As individuals get older, the tics tend to lessen, and people can even experience years without them.

3 common concerns about Tourette’s

1. Can Tourette’s be cured?

• No, there is no cure for Tourette syndrome, but there are lots of treatments available that mean people with it can still live normal lives.

1. Can Tourette’s go away completely?

• Symptoms often improve or disappear as patients approach adolescence and adulthood. The chronic nature of it, though, means tics can fluctuate in the long term.

1. What triggers Tourette’s to start?

• Emotional states can cause tics to become more frequent. High levels of stress or even excitement can cause it, as can illness, sensory overload and other physical stimuli.

Treatment for Tourette’s

Although there is no cure for the condition, interventions are largely focussed on helping individuals manage their symptoms and social stigma. Everyone who has the condition will respond to different treatments in their own way, so it’s important to find the plan that is right for you.

Behavioural therapies can help improve the quality of life for those with the condition. Two of the most popular treatments – or interventions – are Comprehensive Behavioural Interventions for Tics (CBIT) and Habit Reversal Training.

CBIT treatment centres around identifying triggers and then developing compatible movements or sounds, whereas Habit Reversal Training focuses on learning a competing response to replace a tic.

Conventional medications such as antipsychotics, drugs used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and alpha agonists can be prescribed to help reduce the symptoms. Treatment of Tourette syndrome may also focus on the co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety or OCD.

Natural Ways to Reduce Tics and Manage Symptoms

As with a lot of neurological conditions, certain lifestyle changes can have a positive effect on reducing tics.

Having coping mechanisms and techniques during high-stress periods can help reduce when tics occur, as can dietary changes and better sleep quality. Avoiding boredom is also advised, as this can cause tics to increase in frequency; a relaxing sporting activity or hobby is a good way of keeping the brain engaged.

For those living with someone with Tourette’s, it’s important to be tolerant of it and not judge or criticise the person for tics, where possible, try to ignore them. Drawing attention to tics does nothing to improve the frequency or severity of them.

These lifestyle changes and attitudes toward them can help make life easier. While other natural approaches can be helpful, each person reacts differently to stimuli and treatments, so seeking guidance from medical professionals is advised.

One clinically supported treatment is the use of medical cannabis. When taken correctly, it may help to better regulate the body and limit tics, as we’ll explain below.

Can Medical Cannabis Help with Tourette’s?

In recent years, there has been greater acceptance of the benefits medical cannabis can have for people with Tourette syndrome.

The cannabis-based medicines we supply here at Lyphe interact with the endocannabinoid system help reduce the impact of the condition, by aiding relaxation, reduce anxiety and sleep. Some patients benefit from changing their diet, taking supplements and practicing mind-body practices.

Cannabis medications act on the endo-cannabinoid system which has a role in motor function, and cannabis treatments can help to influence muscle movements, reducing tic severity.

A study in Australia in 2023 found that a combination of THC and CBD (the two active ingredients in medical cannabis) reduced tics by nearly half. It found a ‘significant association’ between levels of cannabis in the body and the response to the treatment.

Medical cannabis can help, but it must be accessed legally, through clinics that are regulated to ensure the correct products are supplied. Potential candidates for it must also carry out eligibility checks.

Who Might Be Suitable for Medical Cannabis Treatment?

This type of treatment can be given to those who have tried conventional treatment methods and who wish to seek additional treatments to support their care.

In the UK, there are eligibility laws in place to ensure only those who need it can access medical cannabis. You need to have been diagnosed with a medical condition which has not been effectively treated with conventional therapies. The doctor prescribing it must also be registered with the General Medical Council’s Special Register.

Each potential patient fills out an eligibility assessment form. Our team of clinicians then assess each one on a case-by-case basis before deciding on next steps.

If you think you’re eligible for this treatment, head to the assessment form today.

Your Questions About Living with Tourette’s, Answered

• Is Tourette’s a disability?
  • Yes, it is considered a disability in UK law under the 2010 Equality Act.
• Does it get better with age?
  • Yes, typically, symptoms of Tourette syndrome decrease as people get older. While it’s never technically cured, people go for several months and years without suffering from the condition.
• Can Tourette’s cause seizures?
  • Tourette’s itself does not cause seizures, but those with the condition have a slightly increased risk of developing epilepsy.
• How can I help someone with Tourette’s?
  • Approaching the condition with empathy is one of the best ways to help someone. Being patient and not pointing out tics or scolding people for them is also a necessary part of helping someone with the condition. In a practical sense, helping those with the condition avoid stressful situations can help reduce severe tics.

How Lyphe Supports Patients with Tourette’s

At the Lyphe Clinic, we offer medical cannabis to eligible candidates to treat a range of physical and neurological conditions, including Tourette’s.

Every patient who comes to Lyphe Clinic will begin with a consultation where a member of our team will get to know their medical history and reasons for being here.

Eligibility checks are carried out, and if successful, patients will be given prescriptions for medical cannabis. Throughout the treatment plan, patients have access to aftercare solutions where any questions can be answered.

With years of experience, we are experts at treating the most challenging symptoms of neurological and chronic conditions such as Tourette’s, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), insomnia and depression.

Conclusion: Let Lyphe Clinic’s Treatment Plans Help

Despite there not being a cure, Tourette’s can be managed through medical cannabis and other treatments, all of which are clinically supported, legal treatments. 

So, if you’ve not yet found relief from traditional treatments, see if you’re eligible for medical cannabis treatment from Lyphe Clinic.